Save-A-Lot's last hurrah

Members of the Ionia Department of Public Safety sharpened their skills Wednesday night, practicing firefighting and rescue maneuvers in – and on – the former Save-A-Lot building on Steele Street.

Karen Botakaren.bota@sentinel-standard.com

Members of the Ionia Department of Public Safety sharpened their skills Wednesday night, practicing firefighting and rescue maneuvers in – and on – the former Save-A-Lot building on Steele Street.

The building, which was damaged by spring flooding and will be demolished in October, provided a rare opportunity for IDPS personnel to practice techniques used in a commercial setting, rather than a residential one, said IDPS Director Troy Thomas.

Suited up and using breathing apparatus as if fighting a real fire, firefighters rehearsed ways to force open locked entryways, used a chainsaw to cut openings through the rooftop for venting, practiced searching for victims in a large space in a short time, and breached cement and plaster walls using hand tools.